APRIL/MAY ISSUE 2007

December Administrator Message

Family Survey Results: Thank you to the 205 families that took time to participate in our survey during our interview days in November. Due to the high level of responses, these results are fairly good indicators of our families’ perceptions of the academic programming at Parkview. Survey Result Trends: Overall our parents felt that our school’s program was strong in the following areas: reading, sci-ence, art, music, physical education, social studies. The perception of parents of the areas that the school should focus on include: writing, math, problem solving and French. Overall, parents felt that the amount of homework their child received was adequate. Some interme-diate parents would like to see more homework. In primary, 1 in every 11 students has a tutor. In junior, it was 1 in 5, and in intermediate 1in 6 students participated in some form of tutoring. As we did not define tutoring, this definition may include both remedial tutoring and enrichment activities such as Kumon. Many of the comments that we received made reference to the fact that parents would like to see an emphasis on hands-on math and science, especially in the younger grades. There were also com-ments ranging from more emphasis on foundational skills in math and language to more focus on problem solving and higher-order thinking skills.

This data will be a factor that we consider in our school plan and the establishment of our focus (Challenge of Practice) over the remainder of this year and next. Thank you for your input. We will be discussing our School Improvement Plan at the February School Council Meeting. AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Training: We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all the staff and parents who have participated in AED training this month. Parkview will be receiving a brand new AED that will be located in the front foyer across from the gym doors. The Heart and Stroke foundation has donated an AED to all ele-mentary and secondary schools in York Region. In return, they have asked that each school train 10 people in CPR and AED use. These training clinics have been running this month, and our staff and many parents from our school council have also participated. Thank you to everyone who has given his or her time, so we can have a life saving AED at Parkview. Your time will make the difference in someone’s life.

Parkview Public School (905) 477-2172

Website: http://www.parkview.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/

Principal : Ms. Lisa Dilworth

Vice-Principal: Dane Prince

Superintendent: Lisa Walsh Trustee: Ada Yeung

December 2013 Issue 4

Update Mondays have been added to the hot lunch services at Parkview Public School. Kids Kitchen will now be available from Monday to Thursday. Place your orders on line at www.kidskitchen.ca or pick up a paper menu from your school office. Any questions or concerns could be directed to information@kidskitchen.ca or by calling 905-944-0210

In keeping with our Safe, Caring and Supportive Schools Policy, and to ensure the safety

of all our students and staff, all visitors including parents/guardians) must check in at the

school’s main office upon arrival (i.e. sign in and obtain a visitor or volunteer pass to

wear while in the school). All visitors must use the main entrance of the school. The

office staff can get important messages and materials to your child.

Parkview is being renovated this spring! Please attend our January 14th school council meeting at 7PM in the library to find out what our school will look like when the renovations to accommodate our new Full Day Kindergarten program are com-pleted and how the renovations next spring and summer will affect the students at Parkview. Our super-intendent Lisa Walsh and our Manager of New Construction Bryan Blackert will be speaking, so please plan to attend. More information will follow in the new year.

Morning Drop-Off Reminders Thank you parents for following safe practices when dropping of your children in the morning. Please remember to:

Drive as far as you can in the bus loop to avoid traffic congestion

Have children exit cars on the side of the school

Do not overtake cars in the loop

Please say your goodbyes in the car to help keep traffic moving

-Thank you for your support!

Weather Watch All students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 are expected to go out for every recess unless the

principal or vice principal decides that weather conditions are so poor that it would be detrimental

for them to be outdoors. Students are to come to school ready for winter and prepared to be out-

doors up to 40 minutes after lunch.

We always monitor the weather and, in extreme conditions e.g. wind chill; we keep the students indoors or

shorten the recess breaks.

We often receive requests from parents asking us to keep their children indoors during recess because they are not

feeling well. Unfortunately, we do not have the staff or facilities to supervise students who are sick or still recovering

from an illness. Students with heavy colds, etc., which are serious enough to prevent them from participating in physical

education, recesses or other outdoor activities, should remain at home until their condition improves. This will likely

benefit the students concerned and prevent the spread of this illness to others. Please make sure that your children are

dressed properly for our invigorating winter days. It is advisable for students to bring extra pants and socks. A change is

often necessary due to the wet and cold weather of the winter months. To avoid adding to our clothing collection in the

Lost and Found, please be sure to label all articles of clothing. Boots, hats, mitts/gloves, scarves, and snow pants.

School Bus Cancellation Notice To ensure the safety of students, school bus service may be cancelled from time to time due to inclement weather, extreme temperatures

and/or poor road conditions. In these cases, parents and students should develop alternate care/transportation arrangements.

Since some busing schedules begin by 7:00 a.m., cancellation decisions must be made by 6:00 a.m. to allow time to communicate this mes-

sage to bus drivers. Cancellation decisions will only be made after thorough consultation with the Safety Officers of school bus companies

servicing York Region and are based on several factors including precipitation, air temperature, road conditions and weather forecast.

Please note the following; A decision to cancel school bus service will be region-wide meaning all school buses, vans and taxis won’t operate.

School bus routes may be cancelled when severe weather is not affecting all municipalities in York Region. Both the YRDSB and YCDSB operate many regional educational programs. Students attending these programs are transported over large attendance areas encompassing several municipal boundaries. This limits the ability to cancel bus service using a municipality or zone methodology. Unless otherwise stated, schools will remain open and parents can make arrangements to transport their children to and from school even if school bus service is cancelled. If buses are cancelled in the morning, they will not operate in the afternoon. Therefore students transported to school by parents will require the same transportation home.

Parents, students and school staff are asked to access the following radio and television stations after 6:00 a.m. to receive bus cancellation

information: RADIO

590 AM 640 AM 680 AM 860 AM 1010 AM 1050 AM

1540 AM 1580 AM

88.5 FM 89.9 FM 92.5 FM 93.1 FM 94.9 FM

95.9 FM 97.3 FM 98.1 FM 99.1 FM 99.9 FM

101.1 FM 102.1 FM 104.5 FM 100.7 FM 107.1 FM

TELEVISION CITY TV CTVBarrie CFTOTV CP24 GLOBAL NEWS

A bus cancellation message will also be available at www.schoolbuscitv.com

and by calling 1-877-330-3001, or by following the YCDSB and YRDSB on twitter.

Please note that school bus charters will not operate when home to school bus service is cancelled.

Intermediate News:

Junior News

The Primary Division had a fantastic past couple of months. In October, our

Halloween UNICEF fundraiser raised $222.75! Thank you to all who contributed.

Many of our primary classes performed at the November Remembrance Day assembly

and helped by making artwork to decorate the gym. Job well done!

Our Learn to Skate program at Crosby continues for the Grade 3's

in the month of December.

Yoga is running in the gym on Thursday mornings for Primary students.

Seasonal Singing is running in the gym on Tuesday mornings for Grades 1 - 4.

Students will perform at Unionvilla on December 11th at 2 p.m.

On behalf of the Primary Division, Happy Holidays and have a safe and restful break!

The Junior Division is proud to present, "Santa Goes Green" for the holiday concert. The show is about preserving

the environment by recycling and increasing awareness of taking care of our planet. To ensure the safety for all stu-dents and guests, we have a maximum capacity of 160 guests per show. There will be three shows: 1 afternoon

matinee that starts at 1:45pm and 2 evening performances starting at 6:00pm and 7:15pm. Each junior student may invite 2 guests. Information about booking a seat for a show will follow shortly.

Thank-you for your ongoing support, Junior Division

Primary News

The 2013 intermediate girl's volleyball team was selected in early September, and we practiced three times a

week. The girls worked together as a team and progressed very well. We attended friendly tournaments and exhibition games throughout the season. This year, the group of girls were extremely fun to coach and were a very cohesive

team. The girls were always cheering each other on and had tremendous team spirit. Mr. Rainford and Mrs. Vikse would like to congratulate all of the girls on their fantastic season. Hands down, this group was by far one of the nicest

teams to coach. Thank you to all of the girls for your teamwork, school spirit and overall strong display of

character. Team members this year were: Beatriz Bento, Keanna Rowchan, Catherine Zhong, Leanna Ananda-rajan, Chloe Gagnon, Fedora Ng, Ivy Lin, Mackenzie Foyle, Mackenzie Walsh, Rachel Humphrey, Lauren

McFarlane, Kristal Lim, Taylor Burton, Isabelle Page (no particular order) Managers: Rebecca McLeod and Reva Shen Coaches: Mrs. Vikse and Mr. Rainford

PARKVIEW PANTHER BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL TEAM

The Parkview Panthers enjoyed a successful volleyball season that culminated in the area championships on November 21, 2013 at Microlinks. The Panthers finished second in their pool and then upset Central Park in the quarter-finals before being edged out by the number one seed Castlemore (19-25, 26-28). Coach Hewson would like to thank all of the parents for their support throughout the season. Thanks also to Peter Popalis and Kenneth Siu for their outstanding work as student managers throughout the season. Here are the highlights from this year:

Finalists at Wilclay Invitational Tournament Champions at Lincoln Alexander Invitational Tournament Semi-finalists at the Area Championships

Congratulations to the following players for their excellent skills on the court and their exemplary behaviour off the court: Lucas Sla-

ter, Elliott Hunt, Nathaniel Minott, Laird McQueen, Riley Marsh, Joshua Schultz, Luke Vessio, Aidan Lawlor, Jason Chen, Marcus Mitropoulos, Jackson Liang, Marco Yip, Luke Dasios, and Nicholas Chiappetta.

FOOD BITES December 2013

A Guide to Fats

Once upon a time, our ancestors ate without much thought about fat. Then times changed and it was considered that fats are bad and low fat was the way to go. Now again as we gain more knowledge and information, we know that fats are es-sential to our health and well-being, and not all fats are created equal. Let’s take a closer look at the types of fats and the best cooking uses of different kinds of fats.

Benefits of fat Some fat in our diets is vital. Fats are nutrients that give us energy. They help us absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. They are important for growth development and cell functions and some cannot be made by our body processes. They also assist in the proper functioning of our brains and nerves and maintain healthy skin and other tissues.

Types of fat Fats are made up of fatty acid molecules containing carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. The more hydrogen than carbon a fat has, the more saturated it is.

Unsaturated fats: are liquid at room temperature and considered the “good fats”. Monounsaturated fats – come from seeds, nuts such as avocado, olive, peanut and canola oils. Polyunsaturated fats – come from vegetables, seeds or nuts such as corn, safflower, sunflower and sesame oils.

Saturated fats: are mainly animal fats and are solid at room temperature. These include butter, cheese, whole milk, egg yolks and fatty meats. Some plant fats are also in this category including coconut and palm oils. Once thought to be the “bad fat” and to be avoided, there is now evidence that shows that not all saturated fats are bad and eating the right ones can actually make you healthy. For example, ghee (clarified butter) and coconut oil have many health benefits and have a higher smoking point.

Trans fats: are produced when liquid oil is made into a solid fat through a process called hydrogenation. This process makes oils more stable and less likely to spoil. These would include margarine and shortening. Trans fats should be avoided alto-gether as they are known to cause major health problems such as heart diseases to cancer. Trans fats are often found in baked goods, fried foods, snack foods and pre-mixed products (such as cake mix, pancake mix, chocolate drink mix).

Cooking with fats There are many different types of oils and fats to choose from when cooking. Choose oils for your cooking based on taste, texture and smoke point. The smoke point of an oil or fat is the temperature at which it gives off smoke when heated. A fat starts to break down when it exceeds the smoke point and is not good for consumption. Some fats are better choices for different types of cooking.

Did you know? Kid’s Kitchen serves hot lunches at your school. Leave the lunches to us! Take a break from making lunches and place your orders with Kid’s Kitchen today. Lunches are de-livered fresh and hot to children at the school at lunch time. Allergies? No problem, we take care of it all. For more information visit www.kidskitchen.ca or call us at 905-944-0210.

Kindergarten Registration to Commence January 17, 2014

Kindergarten registration will commence on January 17, 2014 for the 2014-15 school year. Registration forms are available on YRDSB’s website: www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca. Children who turn four or five years old during 2014, live within the school boundary and whose parents are public school tax support-ers will be eligible to register for kindergarten. A kindergarten information session for parents is being planned for this spring. For more information please visit the YRDSB website or contact your local school.

French Immersion Information Sessions and Registrations

Information sessions for the French Immersion (FI) program will take place at Sir Wilfrid Laurier on January 16, 2014 at 7 p.m. FI registration will begin January 17, 2014. In order to streamline the reg-istration process, parents or guardians of Senior Kindergarten students entering Grade 1 in 2014, and wishing to enrol in the FI Program, can visit or call the school office and request an Office Index Card - short version. The Office Index Card must be signed by the principal of the home school. Par-ents or guardians then take this form, along with one piece of identification showing their address to Sir Wilfrid Laurier P.S. to register between January 17 and February 14, 2014. This eliminates the need to provide duplicate enrollment information or to pre-register.

YRDSB’s FI Accommodation Plan provides long-term consistency and equity of access to all stu-dents in York Region and will enable YRDSB to continue to offer the FI program to all who wish to enrol. The FI program will be offered in Dual Track or Single Track settings, in a variety of configura-tions. In order to meet community needs and optimize available space in our schools, a community's Grade 1-8 FI program may be provided over more than one school during the course of a student's FI education. This will allow flexibility in addressing community needs and the opportunity to use ex-isting space in schools. More information is available on the Board’s website: www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca. Please note: Some of the FI accommodation plans will require facility modifications or the develop-ment of new schools and will require short-term transition plans that might include overflow while we work toward the long-term vision. Overflow refers to situations in which the Board directs students to attend a school other than their community school or optional program for a specific period of time, as defined in Policy #108.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

2 3 Gr. 3 Skating @

Crosby Arena

10:30-11:20

4 5 6 Sushi Day

Candlelight

Parade

9 *Scholastic Book

Fair 8:30-4:30pm

*Dental Screening

9:30-2pm

10 *Scholastic Book

Fair 8:30-4:30pm *Dental Screening

9:30-2:00pm *Gr. 3 Skating @

Crosby Arena

11 *Scholastic Book

Fair 8:30-4:30pm

*Primary Skating @

Crosby Arena 10:30-

11:30 am

12

*Junior Holiday

Concert

*Scholastic Book

Fair

13 Scholastic

Book Fair Pizza Day

16 17

Gr. 3 Skating @

Crosby Arena

10:30-11:20

18 Good New

Assemblies

*Spirit Day:

Favorite Holiday Gr.JK—Gr.3@8:45am

Gr. 4-8 @ 10:40am

19 *Gr 5 @

Safety Village

*Gr. 4 Director’s Cut

20

PA DAY

No School

23

24 25

26

27

30 31

School Restarts

January 6th,

2014

2013/2014 School Calendar The 2013/2014 school year calendar has been ap-

proved by the Ministry of Education as follows:

Christmas Vacation Monday, December 23, 2013 to Friday, January 3, 2014 Family Day Monday, February 17, 2014 Mid-Winter Break Monday, March 10, 2014 to Friday, March 14, 2014 Good Friday Friday, April 18, 2014 Easter Monday Monday, April 21, 2014